University of Nevada, Reno Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

Dual-track system: general student misconduct is handled under the Student Code of Conduct by the OSC and Hearing Board or Hearing Officer, while academic integrity violations are governed by the separate UAM 6,502 Academic Standards Policy and heard by the Academic Integrity Board.

Students charged with academic misconduct may not withdraw from the course to avoid the charge or sanction and will be reinstated if they attempt to do so.

Students found responsible for Level C academic violations under UAM 6,502 may not use grade replacement or grade appeals policies for the affected course.

The decision of the Academic Integrity Board on a finding of responsibility is final; the Instructor of Record has no appeal rights.

The University expressly cautions that AI detection tools are not fully reliable and should not be the sole determining factor in academic integrity decisions; results must be considered alongside other evidence and context.

All sanctions for academic standards violations stated in a course syllabus must align with UAM 6,502; faculty may not create their own differing sanctions.

The OSC operates under NSHE authority granted by the Board of Regents, meaning students are also subject to NSHE Code system-level prohibited conduct rules (NSHE Code Section 6.2.2, 20 prohibited activities).

The University School of Medicine has a separate conduct process (Student Promotion and Conduct Committee) for its M.D. and P.A. students, independent of the main OSC.

Surreptitious recording at hearings is prohibited under both NRS 396.970 and UAM 7,004.

Conduct proceedings may run concurrently with criminal or civil proceedings; outcomes in other forums do not automatically alter the university's disciplinary decision.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at UNR?

Office of Student Conduct (non-academic general misconduct); Academic Integrity Board (academic misconduct hearings) (OSC / AIB) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at UNR. For general misconduct hearings, a Hearing Board is comprised of university students and faculty members who have received applicable training. When at least five Board members are seated, three must be faculty and two must be students. A Board Chair is appointed and approved by the Hearing Administrator. A single Hearing Officer drawn from academic and administrative faculty may hear cases in lieu of the full Board. The Academic Integrity Board is separately empaneled by the OSC for academic misconduct matters. All students enrolled on a part-time, full-time, or auditing basis; recognized student organizations; persons in orientation or early-start programs; students exclusively enrolled in online courses; and persons with continued intent to enroll. Authority extends to conduct on university property, at official university functions, and university-sponsored events away from campus. The University of Nevada School of Medicine has separate conduct authority for its own students.

What is the evidence standard at UNR?

UNR applies Preponderance of the evidence: whether it is more likely than not that the responding party committed the alleged misconduct. under Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Guidelines (general conduct); UAM 6,502: Academic Standards (academic integrity) (UAM 6,502 (academic integrity); NSHE Code Title 2, Chapter 10 (system-level student conduct); NSHE Handbook Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 14 (discrimination and harassment)). Office of Student Conduct (non-academic general misconduct); Academic Integrity Board (academic misconduct hearings) uses this standard when determining whether a student is responsible for an alleged violation. The evidence standard is critical because it determines how strong the evidence must be before a finding of responsibility can be made.

What rights do I have during a UNR conduct proceeding?

Under Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Guidelines (general conduct); UAM 6,502: Academic Standards (academic integrity), students facing a Office of Student Conduct (non-academic general misconduct); Academic Integrity Board (academic misconduct hearings) proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to be informed of alleged violations via a written Notice of Conference or Charging Letter before any hearing; review case documents at the Office of Student Conduct under supervision during normal working hours before the hearing; one advisor present during the hearing (the advisor's role is defined in the Code; the advisor does not speak on the student's behalf in general conduct proceedings); request one written continuance of a scheduled hearing (must be made in writing to the Hearing Administrator at least one working day prior). Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at UNR?

A complaint may be filed with the Office of Student Conduct by any member of the university community. For academic misconduct, the Instructor of Record initiates the process by sending a Charging Letter to the student. The OSC conducts a preliminary review of all non-academic, non-Title IX allegations. The Assistant Dean sends the Responding Party a Notice of Conference identifying the alleged violation. In academic misconduct cases, if informal resolution fails, the matter is referred to the OSC, which must schedule an Academic Integrity Board hearing within 15 working days of referral. For discrimination or non-Title IX sexual harassment, the matter is referred to the Center for Civil Rights and Equal Access (CCREA) for investigation; CCREA findings are then forwarded to the Assistant Dean for sanctioning.

What sanctions can UNR impose for academic misconduct?

Office of Student Conduct (non-academic general misconduct); Academic Integrity Board (academic misconduct hearings) can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including reprimand: written notice of violation., restitution: compensation for loss, disciplinary probation: a designated period during which further violations may result in more severe sanctions., and more serious outcomes including suspension and expulsion. The specific sanction depends on the facts, the student's prior record, and any mitigating factors presented during the proceeding. Sanction-phase advocacy is often as important as the responsibility phase, since even a first finding can carry long-term consequences on transcripts and graduate school applications.

How do I appeal a decision at UNR, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at UNR is General conduct appeals: UNVERIFIED: needs human research (the Code references the Dean forwarding the appeal within five working days of receipt, but the specific filing deadline for the student's Statement of Appeal is not confirmed in the retrieved sources). Academic misconduct charging-deficiency appeals: 10 working days from the date of the Charging Letter. Academic sanction alignment review: 10 working days from receipt of the Academic Integrity Board's decision on responsibility.. For general conduct cases, the Responding Party submits a written Statement of Appeal to the Dean of Students, who reviews it and, if at least one recognized ground is met, forwards the Hearing Record (Charging Letter, recording, written evidence, and decision) to the Associate Vice President of Student Services within five working days of receiving the appeal. The Dean notifies the student within five working days whether the appeal is denied or forwarded. The Associate Vice President then reviews the Hearing Record and decides whether to uphold the appeal based on the stated grounds. For academic misconduct charging deficiencies, the student must submit a written Statement of Appeal to the OSC within 10 working days of the Charging Letter; the OSC forwards it to a Hearing Officer within two working days. Academic sanction reviews (where the sanction is alleged to be out of alignment with UAM 6,502 levels) must be requested in writing within 10 working days of notification of the Academic Integrity Board's decision on responsibility. The decision of the Academic Integrity Board on the responsibility finding is final; the Instructor of Record cannot appeal it. Appeals of disciplinary sanctions imposed under the Student Code of Conduct follow Section IV procedures. Title IX sexual harassment appeals are governed separately under Section VII of the Code. Appeal grounds typically include deviations from procedures set forth in the code that resulted in significant prejudice., the decision was not based on a preponderance of the evidence (i.e., whether it was more likely than not that the responding party committed the alleged misconduct)., the disciplinary sanction(s) imposed were not appropriate for the violation for which the responding party was found responsible.. Appeals that succeed are usually the ones that ground each argument in the record and the specific policy language, not emotional or general objections.

Can I bring an advisor to my UNR hearing?

Yes. Under Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Guidelines (general conduct); UAM 6,502: Academic Standards (academic integrity), students have the right to one advisor present during the hearing (the advisor's role is defined in the code; the advisor does not speak on the student's behalf in general conduct proceedings). AdvocatED can serve as that advisor and help you prepare your response, question witnesses where allowed, and navigate UNR's specific procedural rules. What an advisor can and cannot do varies from school to school, and at UNR the rules are set out in the governing policy.

Do I need a lawyer for a UNR Office of Student Conduct (non-academic general misconduct) proceeding?

In most cases, no. UNR's proceedings follow university policy under Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Guidelines (general conduct); UAM 6,502: Academic Standards (academic integrity), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands UNR's specific procedures, the evidence standard, and how sanctions are assessed. An education advocate typically provides stronger, more targeted guidance than a general-practice attorney because the body of law here is university policy, not criminal or civil procedure. AdvocatED brings deep, specialized expertise in these exact processes at a fraction of a law firm's cost.

How does UNR handle Title IX cases?

UNR handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Center for Civil Rights and Equal Access (CCREA), Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator is Zeva R. Edmondson, Director of the Center for Civil Rights and Equal Access (CCR), reachable at (775) 784-1547 and CCR@unr.edu, located in the Continuing Education Building, Room 206, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557. Title IX sexual harassment complaints follow a separate process under Section VII of the Student Code of Conduct, distinct from general student conduct proceedings under Section IV. The CCREA also handles non-Title IX discrimination and harassment complaints, with findings forwarded to the OSC for sanctioning. The CCREA does not advocate on behalf of any party. All Title IX Team members receive training on NSHE and university anti-discrimination policies and serve impartially. The university has a public-facing Title IX reporting dashboard tracking open cases, formal investigations, and findings data. The office was renamed from the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX to the Center for Civil Rights and Equal Access; university syllabi note the 2024 rename. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at UNR, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

What are the most common academic misconduct violations at UNR?

At UNR, the most frequently cited violations include: cheating or assisting others in cheating (uam 6,502 / student code of conduct section iii); plagiarism or assisting others in plagiarizing (uam 6,502 / student code of conduct section iii); obtaining or attempting to obtain grades under false pretenses; unauthorized use of ai tools in coursework (addressed under uam 6,502 and university ai-integrity guidance). Knowing which violation is alleged is the foundation of an effective defense, because the response strategy differs substantially based on whether the case involves plagiarism, AI use, exam cheating, collaboration, or a procedural technicality.

What are the key deadlines in a UNR conduct case?

At UNR, the most consequential deadlines are: Academic misconduct charging-deficiency appeal: written Statement of Appeal must be emailed to the OSC within 10 working days from the date of the Charging Letter; Hearing schedule: the OSC must set an Academic Integrity Board hearing within 15 working days after the matter is referred to the OSC; Continuance request: must be submitted in writing to the Hearing Administrator at least one working day before the scheduled hearing; one continuance is permitted. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Office of Student Conduct (non-academic general misconduct); Academic Integrity Board (academic misconduct hearings), document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.